WILTON -- Tuesday's early morning drizzle didn't seem to dampen the spirits of the newest pupils finding footing along their educational expeditions, even if their journeys were delayed a week by the effects of Tropical Storm Irene.

As buses circled to a stop in front of Wilton's Miller-Driscoll School off Wolfpit Road, children disembarked and were led inside without noticeable whimpers, worries or words of protest.

Miller-Driscoll paraprofessional Jackie Waters, a nine year witness to first day arrivals, said she saw no visible distress among the arriving youngsters.

"We're seeing a lot of happy faces," Waters said. "I haven't seen any tears. We're going to have a great year at Miller-Driscoll."

With umbrellas in hand, some parents accompanied their children up the path to the school entrance. John Di Rocco, who brought his son Luke to his first day of kindergarten, said an older son wasn't particularly thrilled about returning to school, but Luke was ready to get going. And Luke said he knew exactly what he was going to be taught.

"I'm going to learn how to have fun and how to read," Luke said.

This is the second school-year Miller-Driscoll will function under a single administration and its sole principal, Cheryl Jensen-Gerner.

Outside the school, Jensen-Gerner said "Irene" knocked out power to the school for a few days, but no other ill-effects were suffered. She said lessons will be given as if this were the second week of school, and first-week material will be incorporated in time.

"The things scheduled for last week will be phased in over the next couple of weeks," she said.

"It will take a little while this first day to get them a little organized' she said. "We have a lot of helpers the first week. We have volunteers to ride the buses."

Four of Janet Lane's five children attend Wilton Public Schools. As she stood outside Miller-Driscoll with her youngest child by her side, she said her older children were ready to begin school last week, but her son Drew wasn't put off by the delay to his kindergarten start. On his first day, he got there in plenty of time.

"The buses were perfect," Lane said.

Simon Adams arrived at the school to give his son Peter a paper left behind, perhaps due to his anticipation to begin learning.

"He was disappointed; he was really looking forward to it," Adams said regarding the original start date.

As was Joseph Pelizzari. Erasmo Farinas, Joseph's stepfather, said the delay disappointed Joseph, eager as he was to begin kindergarten. But Farinas noted the storm otherwise didn't impact his family, and damage could have been much worse.

Reached by phone at Wilton High School on Danbury Road, Acting Principal Robert O'Donnell said the first day was progressing as expected.

"We welcomed the class of 2015," he said. "We had the freshman come in for the first rotation, and they successfully navigated the building. The seniors had their opening day breakfast, and all went well. There seems to be a lot of positive energy in the school."

Cider Mill School Principal Ginny Rico said despite the rain, buses were on time and many of the students were anxious to get going.

With 1,040 students in grades three to five at Cider Mill on School Road, Rico said the activities such as library time and building orientation, school lunches and dismissal all went smoothly.

Middlebrook School on School Road suffered some water problems cause by "Irene," but the middle school's principal, Julia Harris, said her school's opening was clear sailing.

"We had some minor flooding of the media room, but everything is back to normal," Harris said. "All the students arrived on time, and we had a very smooth opening day for the children. Despite the storm, the children were very excited to be back and to see their teachers."

Reached by phone mid-afternoon, Superintendent Gary Richards said apart from the Middlebrook flooding and some trees downed on Wilton High School property, the district ducked more serious storm damage.

Richards said school days missed due to "Irene" will have to be made up, and he dismissed a rumor he's heard that since missed days were due to an "Act of God," they will not have to be accounted for.

Richards said the number of school days is set by state law, and he doesn't anticipate any legislative change to accommodate days lost to "Irene." He said the district will be talking to the school board to propose revisions to the school calendar to make up the missed days.

Richards said school buses arrived at their destinations on time, and he praised the efforts of the district's transportation coordinator.

"It really contributes to a good opening day," he said.

Richards also said he made an opening day tour and was heartened to see teacher and students in scholarly pursuit.

"I've been to all the schools today, and I was very please to see calm and purposeful activity," he said.